Improvement in breech-loading ordnance



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. HAMILTON. Breech-Ldading Ordnance.

Patented July 9, 1861.

Witnesses:

'2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. HAMILTON.

Breech-Loading Ordnance.

Patented July 9, 186! I Nd;

illul all' Witnesses? UNITED -STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD HAMILTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOAD ING ORDNANCE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 32,768, dated July 9,1861.

drawings, in which- Figurel represents a side elevation of a cannonconstructed according to the princi- 1 ples of my invention. Fig. 2 is aplan of the cannon detached from its carriage. a vertical longitudinalsection of the cannon Fig. 3 is through the central line of thebore.Figs. 4,

- 5, and-dareviews-of the-fixed breech deinched. Figs. '7, 8, 9, and 10are views of the movable breech detached, and Figs. 11 and I 12 areviews of the breech-stopper detached. I The object of my invention is toenable cannon to be loaded at the breech wit-h facility and to be firedwith safety; and the first part of my invention consists in thecombination of a movable conical breech with the fixed breech of acannon in such manner that the axis upon which the movable conicalbreech turns is inline, or thereabout, with the central line of the boreof the cannon, the movable conical breech and the fixed breech beingeach perforated with a lateral opening for the insertion of thecartridge, which openings correspond when the movable breech is turnedinto the position for loading and do not correspond when the movablebreech is ina position for firing.

This construction .and arrangement retains the advantages which accruefrom the arrangement of a movable breech turning in line with the axisof the gun and at the same time obviates the disadvantages which areincident to the employment of a cylindrical turning breech, whichbecomes loose by wear and permits the escape of smoke and gas. As myturning breech is conical and is also in line (or thereabout) with thebore of the cannon, the wearing of the surfaces does not render itloose. The cone does, indeed, become smaller by wear; but as it is inline with the bore of the cannon it is forced back in its socket by thepressure within the gun when the charge is fired and bears closelyagainst its seat notwithstanding the wear.

The second part of my invention consists in combining with the movableand fixed breeches of a cannon, as above described, a removable stopperfor the lateral opening in the movable breech, this stopper being fittedI in such manner that it is retained in place by the fixed breech whenthe movable breech is.turned within the fixed breech. Both parts of myinvention are embodied in the cannon represented in the accompany? ingdrawings. *In this cannon the fixed breech A has a conical socket withinit into which. the movable conical breech B is fitted. The axis of themovable conical breech is in line with the axis of the bore 0 ofthe-cannon, and the movable breech has a chamber (1 withiir it which isaiprolongation of the bore of the-g cannon, and is of suitable size toreceive the, cartridge. The movable conical breechter x, minates at itshinder extremity in a shank f, which extends backward throughan opening5 in the butt of the fixed breech and is'fitted at 1 its outerextremitywith a lever G, by means of which the movable breech may be turnedv onits axis. The movable conical breech is I perforated at one side with anopening m of sufiicient size to admit the cartridge and the stopperhereinafter described, and a similar i opening n is made in the upperside of. the A 1 fixed breech, so that when the lever G is turned up, asshown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, thetwo openings correspond, and when thelever v is turned until it points down to the ground 9 the two openingsare diametrically opposite to each other. The shank of the movablebreech has a stop-screw e secured to it, and a stop i is secured to thehinder face of the fixed breech. The relative positions of thisstopscrew and stop are such that if the movable breech be turned in onedirection by its lever G the stop-screw strikes the stop onthe fixedbreech and prevents the further turning ofv r the movable breech in thatdirection when the opening in the movable breech corresponds with theopening in the fixed breech, and if the movable breech be turned in theopposite direction its further movement is. stopped when the opening init is diametrically opposite that in the fixed breech.

A stopper K is fitted to the opening in the movable breech, and as theopening in the movable breech is wider than the bore of the chamber thesides or legs a a of the stopper rest upon shouldersb 0 in the breech.This of a the movable breech that was removed to form the opening, sothat when the stopper is in place the periphery of the interior of thechamber is unbroken and the conical periphery of'the exterior ofthemovable breech is also unbroken; hence when the stopper is in placeand the movable breech is turned within the fixed breech the stopperpasses round within the conical socket of the stationary breech '1 whichholds it in place when the cannon is fired.

V The stopper has a cup-formed. socket 1' in its outer side, whichsocket is crossed by a bar 8, to which the hand or a hook can -beapplied to draw the stopper from its place or to v replace it. The fixedbreech is perforated with a touchhole t, and the butt of the movablebreech is perforated with a similar touch-hole. The ,latter is in' suchposition that when the movablebreech is turned 'until the stop-screw ewnchholes are in line, so that-fire can be ommunicated through themtothe charge; tgwhen'the movable breech is in any other sition the,toucheholes. do'not correspond, dihjelnce ialLdan geii thatwonld accruefrom ring-the charge before the lateralcommunifnd-theexterior of thecannon is'cutoff is efiectually prevented,

stopper corresponds in form with the portion trikes thestop onthe fixedbreech the two cation between the chamberin the breech The fined breechis firmlyscrewed fast to the barrel D of the cannon, andthe latter isfitted with trunnions in the usual manner.

When the cannon thus described is to be loaded, the movable breech isturned by its lever to cause thetwo lateral charging-openings tocorrespond in position. The stopper is then withdrawn and the cartridgeis inserted.

After this the stopper is replaced and the movable breech is turned inthe reverse direction by means of the lever until the stopscrew strikesthe stop. Then the cannon is primed and fired in the usual manner.

Having thus described a cannon embodying my improvements, what I claimas my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is I 1. Thecombination of a fixed breech and a movable conical breech, the twobeing constructed and arranged substantially as described.

2. The combination of a movable breech and a fixed breech constructedand arranged substantially as described; witha removable stopper for thecharging-opening, substantially as described. V

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of March,A. D. 1861 Witnesses: I

BENJN. E. GALLUP, EDWARD S. EVARTS.

., E. HAMILTON. H

